Future low temperature district heating design guidebook

Low temperature district heating is a heat supply technology for efficient, environmental friendly and cost effective community supply. In comparison to conventional district heating, the network supply temperature is reduced down to approximately 50 °C or even less. Within this context, low temperature district heating offers prospects for both the demand side (community building structure) and the generation side (properties of the networks as well as energy sources). Especially in connection with buildings that require only low supply temperatures for space heating, low temperature district heating offers new possibilities for greater energy efficiency and utilization of renewable energy sources, which lead to reduced consumption of fossil fuel based energy.

The IEA DHC Annex TS1 is a three year international research project which aims to identify holistic and innovative approaches to communal low temperature heat supply by using district heating. It is a framework that promotes the discussion of future but also existing heating networks with an international group of experts. The goal is to obtain a common development direction for the wide application of low temperature district heating systems in the near future.

As part of the project promising technologies for low temperature district heating application have been collected and identified to meet the goals of future renewable based community energy systems. Background materials and cutting edge knowledge on district heating pipe systems, network designs, hygienic domestic hot water preparation in low temperature supply schemes, space heating controls and the integration of small scale decentralized heat sources is provided in the report for designers as well as decision makers in the building and district energy sector.